a simpleton-第43章

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they　are　all　higgledy…piggledy。〃　　So　those　two　got　into　the　wagon
through　the　back　curtains。　　Then　the　Kafir　driver　flourished　his
kambok；　or　long　whip；　in　the　air；　and　made　it　crack　like　a　pistol；
and　the　horses　reared；　and　the　oxen　started　and　slowly　bored　in
between　them；　for　they　whinnied；　and　kicked；　and　spread　out　like　a
fan　all　over　the　road；　but　a　flick　or　two　from　the　terrible　kambok
soon　sent　them　bleeding　and　trembling　and　rubbing　shoulders；　and
the　oxen；　mildly　but　persistently　goring　their　recalcitrating
haunches；　the　intelligent　animals　went　ahead；　and　revenged
themselves　by　breaking　the　harness。　　But　that　goes　for　little　in
Cape　travel。

The　body　of　the　wagon　was　long　and　low　and　very　stout。　　The　tilt
strong　and　tight…made。　　The　roof　inside；　and　most　of　the　sides；
lined　with　green　baize。　　Curtains　of　the　same　to　the　little　window
and　the　back。　　There　was　a　sort　of　hold　literally　built　full　of
purchases；　a　small　fireproof　safe；　huge　blocks　of　salt；　saws；　axes；
pickaxes；　adzes；　flails；　tools　innumerable；　bales　of　wool　and　linen
stuff；　hams；　and　two　hundred　empty　sacks　strewn　over　all。　　In　large
pigeon…holes　fixed　to　the　sides　were　light　goods；　groceries；
collars；　glaring　cotton　handkerchiefs　for　Phoebe's　aboriginal
domestics；　since　not　every　year　did　she　go　to　Cape　Town；　a　twenty
days'　journey　by　wagon：　things　dangled　from　the　very　roof；　but　no
hard　goods　there；　if　you　please；　to　batter　one's　head　in　a　spill。
Outside　were　latticed　grooves　with　tent；　tent…poles；　and　rifles。
Great　pieces　of　cork；　and　bags　of　hay　and　corn；　hung　dangling　from
mighty　hooksthe　latter　to　feed　the　cattle；　should　they　be
compelled　to　camp　out　on　some　sterile　spot　on　the　Veldt；　and
methinks　to　act　as　buffers；　should　the　whole　concern　roll　down　a
nullah　or　little　precipice；　no　very　uncommon　incident　in　the
blessed　region　they　must　pass　to　reach　Dale's　Kloof。

Harness　mended；　fresh　start。　　The　Hottentots　and　Kafir　vociferated
and　yelled；　and　made　the　unearthly　row　of　a　dozen　wild　beasts
wrangling：　the　horses　drew　the　bullocks；　they　the　wagon；　it　crawled
and　creaked；　and　its　appendages　wobbled　finely。

Slowly　they　creaked　and　wobbled　past　apricot　hedges　and　detached
houses　and　huts；　and　got　into　an　open　country　without　a　tree；　but
here　and　there　a　stunted　camel…thorn。　　The　soil　was　arid；　and　grew
little　food　for　man　or　beast；　yet；　by　a　singular　freak　of　nature；
it　put　forth　abundantly　things　that　here　at　home　we　find　it　harder
to　raise　than　homely　grass　and　oats；　the　ground　was　thickly　clad
with　flowers　of　delightful　hues；　pyramids　of　snow　or　rose…color
bordered　the　track；　yellow　and　crimson　stars　bejewelled　the　ground；
and　a　thousand　bulbous　plants　burst　into　all　imaginable　colors；　and
spread　a　rainbow　carpet　to　the　foot　of　the　violet　hills；　and　all
this　glowed；　and　gleamed；　and　glittered　in　a　sun　shining　with
incredible　brightness　and　purity　of　light；　but；　somehow；　without
giving　a　headache　or　making　the　air　sultry。

Christopher　fell　to　gathering　flowers；　and　interrogating　the　past
by　means　of　them；　for　he　had　studied　botany：　the　past　gave　him　back
some　pitiably　vague　ideas。　　He　sighed。　　〃Never　mind；〃　said　he　to
Dick；　and　tapped　his　forehead：　〃it　is　here：　it　is　only　locked　up。〃

〃All　right；〃　said　Dick；　〃nothing　is　lost　when　you　know　where　'tis。〃

〃This　is　a　beautiful　country；〃　suggested　Christopher。　　〃It　is　all
flowers。　　It　is　like　the　garden　ofthe　garden　oflocked　up。〃

〃It　is　delightful；〃　replied　the　self…compelled　optimist
sturdily。　　But　here　nature　gave　way；　he　was　obliged　to　relieve　his
agricultural　bile　by　getting　into　the　cart　and　complaining　to　his
sister。　　〃'Twill　take　us　all　our　time　to　cure　him。　　He　have　been
bepraising　this　here　soil；　which　it　is　only　fit　to　clean　the
women's　kettles。　　'Twouldn't　feed　three　larks　to　an　acre；　I　know；
no；　NOR　HALF　SO　MANY。〃

〃Poor　soul！　mayhap　the　flowers　have　took　his　eye。　　Sit　here　a　bit；
Dick。　　I　want　to　talk　to　you　about　a　many　things。〃

While　these　two　were　conversing；　Ucatella；　who　was　very　fond　of
Phoebe；　but　abhorred　wagons；　stepped　out　and　stalked　by　the　side；
like　an　ostrich；　a　camelopard；　or　a　Taglioni；　nor　did　the　effort
with　which　she　subdued　her　stride　to　the　pace　of　the　procession
appear：　it　was　the　poetry　of　walking。　　Christopher　admired　it　a
moment；　but　the　noble　expanse　tempted　him；　and　he　strode　forth　like
a　giant；　his　lungs　inflating　in　the　glorious　air；　and　soon　left　the
wagon　far　behind。

The　consequence　was　that　when　they　came　to　a　halt；　and　Dick　and
Phoebe　got　out　to　release　and　water　the　cattle；　there　was
Christopher's　figure　retiring　into　space。

〃Hanc　rem　aegre　tulit　Phoebe；〃　as　my　old　friend　Livy　would　say。
〃Oh　dear！　oh　dear！　if　he　strays　so　far　from　us；　he　will　be　eaten　up
at　nightfall　by　jackals；　or　lions；　or　something。　　One　of　you　must
go　after　him。〃

〃Me　go；　missy；〃　said　Ucatella　zealously；　pleased　with　an　excuse　for
stretching　her　magnificent　limbs。

〃Ay；　but　mayhap　he　will　not　come　back　with　YOU：　will　he；　Dick？〃

〃That　he　will；　like　a　lamb。〃　　Dick　wanted　to　look　after　the　cattle。

〃Yuke；　my　girl；〃　said　Phoebe；　〃listen。　　He　has　been　a　good　friend
of　ours　in　trouble；　and　now　he　is　not　quite　right　HERE。　　So　be　very
kind　to　him；　but　be　sure　and　bring　him　back；　or　keep　him　till　we
come。〃

〃Me　bring　him　back　alive；　certain　sure；〃　said　Ucatella；　smiling
from　ear　to　ear。　　She　started　with　a　sudden　glide；　like　a　boat
taking　the　water；　and　appeared　almost　to　saunter　away；　so　easy　was
the　motion；　but　when　you　looked　at　the　ground　she　was　covering；　the
stride；　or　glide；　or　whatever　it　was；　was　amazing。


　　　　　〃She　seem'd　in　walking　to　devour　the　way。〃


Christopher　walked　fast；　but　nothing　like　this；　and　as　he　stopped
at　times　to　botanize　and　gaze　at　the　violet　hills；　and　interrogate
the　past；　she　came　up　with　him　about　five　miles　from　the　halting…
place。

She　laid　her　hand　quietly　on　his　shoulder；　and　said；　with　a　broad
genial　smile；　and　a　musical　chuckle；　〃Ucatella　come　for　you。　　Missy
want　to　speak　you。〃

〃Oh！　very　well；〃　and　he　turned　back　with　her；　directly；　but　she
took　him　by　the　hand　to　make　sure；　and　they　marched　back　peaceably；
in　silence；　and　hand　in　hand。　　But　he　looked　and　looked　at　her；　and
at　last　he　stopped　dead　short；　and　said；　a　little　arrogantly；
〃Come；　I　know　YOU。　　YOU　are　not　locked　up；〃　and　he　inspected　her
point…blank。　　She　stood　like　an　antique　statue；　and　faced　the
examination。　　〃You　are　'the　noble　savage；'〃　said　he；　having
concluded　his　inspection。

〃Nay；〃　said　she。　　〃I　be　the　housemaid。〃

〃The　housemaid？〃

〃Iss；　the　housemaid；　Ucatella。　　So　come　on。〃　　And　she　drew　him
along；　sore　perplexed。

They　met　the　cavalcade　a　mile　from　the　halting…place；　and　Phoebe
apologized　a　little　to　Christopher。　　〃I　hope　you'll　excuse　me；
sir；〃　said　she；　〃but　I　am　just　for　all　the　world　like　a　hen　with
her　chickens；　if　but　one　strays；　I'm　all　in　a　flutter　till　I　get
him　back。〃

〃Madam；〃　said　Christopher；　〃I　am　very　unhappy　at　the　way　things　are
locked　up。　　Please　tell　me　truly；　is　this　'the　housemaid；'　or　'the
noble　savage'？〃

〃Well；　she　is　both；　if　you　go　to　that；　and　the　best　creature　ever
breathed。〃

〃Then　she　IS　'the　noble　savage'？〃

〃Ay；　so　they　call　her；　because　she　is　black。〃

〃Then；　thank　Heaven；〃　said　Christopher；　〃the　past　is　not　all　locked
up。〃

That　afternoon　they　stopped　at　an　inn。　　But　Dick　slept　in　the　cart。
At　three　in　the　morning　they　took　the　road　again；　and　creaked　along
supernaturally　loud　under　a　purple　firmament　studded　with　huge
stars；　all　bright　as　moons；　that　lit　the　way　quite　clear；　and
showed　black　things　innumerable　flitting　to　and　fro；　these　made
Phoebe　shudder；　but　were　no　doubt　harmless；　still　Dick　carried　his
double　rifle；　and　a　revolver　in　his　belt。

They　made　a　fine　march　in　the　cool；　until　some　slight　mists
gathered；　and　then　they　halted　and　breakfasted　near　a　silvery
kloof；　and　watered　the　cattle。　　While　thus　employed；　suddenly　a
golden　tinge　seemed　to　fall　like　a　lash　on　the　vapors　of　night；
they　scudded　away　directly；　as　jackals　before　the　lion；　the　stars
paled；　and　with　one　incredible　bound；　the　mighty　sun　leaped　into
the　horizon；　and　rose　into　the　sky。　　In　a　moment　all　the　lesser
lamps　of　heaven　were　out；　though　late　so　glorious；　and　there　was
nothing　but　one　vast　vaulted　turquoise；　and　a　great　flaming　topaz
mounting　with　eternal　ardor　to　its　centre。

This　did　not　escape　Christopher。　　〃What　is　this？〃　said　he。　　〃No
twilight。　　The　tropics！〃　　He　managed　to　dig　that　word　out　of　the
past　in　a　moment。

At　ten　o'clock　the　sun　was　so　hot　that　they　halted；　and　let　the
oxen　loose　till　sun…down。　　Then　they　began　to　climb　the　mountains。

The　way　was　steep　and　rugged；　indeed；　so　rough　in　places；　that　the
cattle　had　to　jump　over　the　holes；　and　as　the　wagon　could　not　jump
so　cleverly；　it　jolted　appallingly；　and　many　a　scream　issued　forth。

Near　the　summit；　when　the　poor　beasts　were　dead　beat；　they　got　into
clouds　and　storms；　and　the　wind　rushed　howling　at　them　through　the
narrow　pass　with　such　fury　it　flattened　the　horses'　ears；　and　bade
fair　to　sweep　the　whole　cavalcade　to　the　plains　below。

Christopher　and　Dick　walked　close　behind；　under　the　lee　of　the
wagon。　　Christopher　said　in　Dick's　ear；　〃D'ye　hear　that？　　Time　to
reef　topsails；　captain。〃

〃It　is　time　to　do　SOMETHING；〃　said　Dick。　　He　took　advantage　of　a
jutting　rock；　drew　the　wagon　half　behind　it　and　across　the　road；
propped　the　wheels　with　stones；　and　they　all　huddled　to　leeward；
man　and　beast　indiscriminately。

〃Ah！〃　said　Christopher；　approvingly；　〃we　are　lying　to：　a　very
propercourse。〃

They　huddled　and　shivered　three　hours；　and　then　the　sun　leaped　into
the　sky；　and　lo！　a　transformation　scene。　　The　cold　clouds　were
first　rosy　fleeces；　then　golden　ones；　then　gold…dust；　then　gone；
the　rain　was　big　diamonds；　then　crystal　sparks；　then　gone；　the
rocks　and　the　bushes　sparkled　with　gem…like　drops；　and　shone　and
smiled。

The　shivering　party　bustled；　and　toasted　the　potent　luminary　in　hot
coffee；　for　Phoebe's　wagon　had　a　stove　and　chimney；　and　then　they
yoked　their　miscellaneous　cattle　again；　and　breasted　the　hill。
With　many　a　jump；　and　bump；　and　jolt；　and　scream　from　inside；　they
reached　the　summit；　and　looked　down　on　a　vast　slope；　flowering　but
arid；　a　region　of　gaudy　sterility。

The　descent　was　more　tremendous　than　the　ascent；　and　Phoebe　got
out；　and　told　Christopher　she　would　liever　cross　the　ocean　twice
than　this　dreadful　mountain　once。

The　Hottentot　with　the　reins　was　now　bent　like　a　bow　all　the　time；
keeping　the　cattle　from　flowing　diverse　over　precipices；　and　the
Kafir　with　his　kambok　was　here；　and　there；　and　everywhere；　his　whip
flicking　like　a　lancet；　and　cracking　like　a　horse…pistol；　and　the
pair　vied　like　Apollo　and　Pan；　not　which　could　sing　sweetest；　but
swear　loudest。　　Having　the　lofty　hill　for　some　hours　between　them
and　the　sun；　they　bumped；　and　jolted；　and　stuck　in　mud…holes；　and
flogged　and　swore　the　cattle　out　of　them　again；　till　at　last　they
got　to　the　bottom；　where　ran　a　turbid　kloof　or　stream。　　It　was
fordable；　but　the　recent　rains　had　licked　away　the　slope；　so　the
existing　bank　was　two　feet　above　the　stream。　　Little　recked　the
demon　drivers　or　the　parched　cattle；　in